"Like it was yesterday," she crooned, brushing his mouth with a kiss that left him swooning with excitement as she ran to greet the next flame.
"Jezebel!" Lilith screamed, not even waiting for the witch to leave her flame capsule. She barreled into the inferno with her, coming out of it carrying Jezebel, who was locked in a deep French kiss with her legs wrapped around Lilith's waist and her arms about her neck.
"You called," Jezebel said, breathless.
Lilith set the amber beauty down gently, running her talons through her long, thick, wavy hair. "He called, you know."
"Noooo ... The master!" Jezebel fell backward, her sheer, black and golden bell-dancer's outfit beginning to smolder.
"In Vampire Council chambers," Lilith murmured, twirling a long strand of her jet-black hair around her finger. "Was amenable to a visit with me, you, and Delilah."
"When?" Jezebel whispered, appearing nearly faint.
"Soon, beloved. Soon. But first we have a quest."
The warlocks gave each other distrustful yet conspiratorial glances.
"And he did not call for me?" Medusa said, stepping out of the inferno in a huff, thousands of her baby serpents snapping. "Lilith ... it has been ages." She adjusted her black Grecian robe and tried to adjust her tone. "Thank you for calling me now, however." A battle-ax sliced through the fifth flame and a thickly muscled warlock stepped out in full black battle-armor regalia.
"My queen," he murmured, looking at her with a sidelong glance.
"Genghis," Lilith hissed. "We must catch up very soon." He nodded and looked at the others with curiosity. "So many missing?"
"So many slaughtered by the Isis blade and the blade of Ausar," Lilith spat, sudden rage making her dark eyes glow. "I await one more transformation, and then we shall convene with the six oldest of your kind who can be raised."
"What Lilith says is true," Medusa hissed quietly, her serpentine gaze roving over Genghis. "Perseus, like Hercules, was a Guardian, but not a Neteru, or I would not be here, either."
Lilith clutched her chest in relief as the last flame flickered out with a blue-black wave of energy. A nude being stepped forward, her long, platinum hair her only covering, then it instantly grew out black at the roots to change into a curtain of darkness around her. She air-kissed Lilith on both cheeks as they embraced.
"Siren ... you came." Lilith held her back, pleased.
"I was lost at sea, Queen," she said, her voice sounding like it came from within the endless echo of a seashell. "Your bidding is my pleasure."
"I have a riddle," Lilith said, gathering the witches and warlocks around her. "Something to challenge your skills and that of all the covens that follow you." Wicked smiles of glee surrounded Lilith as the winds be gan to increase to lift her gown.
"Here is the prize ... winner takes some," she said, laughing and teasing them as she turned in a slow circle. "I never give all. But, for those who can ensure this plot works, there is a council seat available on The Vampire Council - you are looking at the newly coro nated Chairwoman!"
She screeched and ran between them as their shocked ex pressions met her, and they slowly, one by one, dropped to their knees.
"Yes, I am still the Dark Lord's wife and familiar - his favorite among all others, but a plot more evil than any I could have devised has left Dante slain, as well as his son." She nodded slowly as she walked between her subjects. "Yes. Hard to believe but true. They both died at the hands of a Neteru, their fates sealed with a beheading by an Isis blade." Machiavelli was on his feet first, followed by the others. "No ... heresy."
"Indeed," Lilith said in a low hiss. "So, as you can see, pardon the pun, the stakes are high - are you game?"
"Just speak the challenge," Sebastian said in a superior tone, looking down his nose at the others.
"I want a spell ... a spell like no other spell," Lilith mur mured as her eyes slid closed and her arms outstretched. "I want a spell that will make you believe I have taken leave of my senses when I ask you for this, and it must spread like a virus worldwide to all covens to permeate the atmosphere where it can be inhaled."
"A plague," Genghis whispered. "Done."
"Not so hasty - that in due time." Lilith clapped her hands with twisted joy. "You'll never guess." She swept away. "It is genius, just genius - so absolutely wretched the Light will dim when I'm done."
Walking in a circle in the middle of their ring, she spoke in a low, conspiratorial tone. "I have called for Sebastian for his expertise in poisons and potions; Machiavelli for his shrewd political mind and intrigue in this time of planetary politics, to embroil the Neteru Councils and the Covenant at war with themselves; Jezebel for her lustiness and idolatry -
her ability to sway worship of things false; Medusa for her venomous jealousy that had taken over her mind like a thou sand serpents; Genghis, you, my general, will provide me battle insight to lead legions under spells of Darkness; and my Siren for your voice to affect the music, and to call the Neterus to their ultimate demise."
"This spell," Sebastian whispered tensely, raw lust caus ing beads of sweat to form on his brow, "the elements you seek can be easily included, but the delivery system ... I must know your requirements."
"Up to this point," Lilith said, one finger on her pursed lips. "Men have ruled the Vampire Council - and in their blindness, they attempted to create a break between the mil lennium male and female Neteru. A nearly impossible task where soul mates are involved." She walked away with her hands on her hips. "No attempt worked. They tried to im pregnate her to make a daywalker," Lilith screeched, throw ing up her hands in disgust. "Men! So egocentric. Of course it failed. Then they tried to go after her mate, Carlos Rivera, and turn him permanently dark - but that failed, because they didn't factor in the pure white light essence of love. He'd never be completely dark as long as he loved her, for Light would be in his dead, black heart - there of all places! Dante should have known when he couldn't break him on his torture wall for loving her so." Lilith walked away, gown billowing out from her legs as a sulfur trail burned in her wake.